THE OAKLAND POST 16 MARCH
OAKLAND UNIVERSITY’S INDEPENDENT STUDENT NEWSPAPER
2016
SCIENCE RULES
THOUSANDS GATHER IN THE O’RENA FOR BILL NYE THE SCIENCE GUY’S VISIT TO OU PAGE 10-11
Photo by Bohdanna Cherstylo / The Oakland Post
TUITION TALKS.
GOLD VIBES.
POSTSEASON HONORS.
PAGE 7
PAGE 12
PAGE 18
President Hynd breaks down how the OU’s a cappella group is headed to the Big Women’s basketball players recognized Apple to compete in the finals of ICCA 2015-16 tuition increase was spent for season’s performance
thisweek M a rch 1 6 , 2 01 6 / / Vo l u m e 4 1. I s s u e 2 3
POLL OF THE WEEK St. Patrick’s Day is coming up, what shenanigans will you be up to? A
Getting smashed on green beer and Bailey’s.
B
Gonna clean out McDonald’s of Shamrock Shakes!
C
Pinch me and die.
D
Drowning my sorrows in Lucky Charms cause midterms.
Vote at www.oaklandpostonline.com
LAST WEEK’S POLL Is Spring in the air? A) Yes! And it smells like teen spirit! 2 votes B) Yes, my allergies have alerted me to its presence 8 votes
PHOTO OF THE WEEK DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY // Oakland University piano students played solo works by Bach, Chopin, Debussy, Ravel, and duos and duets by Arenski and Dvorak, all inspired by dance. Members from the Ballroom Dance Club performed three dances during the recital — the gavot, the mazurka and the waltz.
C) Who knows? It’s Michigan. 6 votes D) No. 5 votes
Elyse Gregory // The Oakland Post
Submit a photo to editor@oaklandpostonline.com for a chance to be featured. View all submissions at oaklandpostonline.com
THIS WEEK IN HISTORY March 11, 1992 Bushman Disposal gave the residence halls’ recycling program one month to educate students about how to follow their program policy. Much of the materials collected were non-recyclable solid waste items.
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HOUSING SEEKS CREATIVITY Four new marketing positions are now avaible through Housing, each position focuses on a different facet of creativity and will suplement the summer team.
March 12, 1997 Senior journalism student Diana Pletz had the opportunity to shadow President Gary Russi for a day after being chosen by the Golden Key National Honor Society.
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HARMONIZING IN NYC After winning in Chicago, the Oakland University a capella group is poised to compete in the Big Apple and hopefully take home the Gooding Cup.
FRESHMAN PHENOM Men’s swimmer Devon Nowicki is headed to NCAAs after his recordbreaking performances in the Horizon League championship.
March 11, 2015 A story ran in the Post about the origins of the Golden Grizz statue. It came from the family of a Hungarian swimmer, Hunor Ma’te’, who wanted to gift the statue to the university. —Compiled by Cheyanne Kramer, web editor
BY THE NUMBERS HOW THE 2015-16 TUITION RAISE WAS SPENT
11
new faculty positions
$125,000
towards Student Support Services
4
Academic Advisers added
2%
the minimum tuition increase students will see next year —source: Office of the President
Perspectives
The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.
COLUMN
Political focus: Common Core, what it is, why it matters to you Melissa Deatsch Staff Reporter
What’s the issue? The Common Core standards have been a highly contested topic on the 2016 campaign trail by many of the Republicans. In the March 10 Republican Primary debate, Common Core was discussed once again amongst the candidates. According to Politifact, the Common Core State Standards are a set of standards in English and math developed by state education groups and nonprofits with input from teachers, parents and education experts to ensure that every student in the U.S. was learning the same thing in school. Forty-two states have since agreed to use Common Core and the federal government has no control over the implementation process. States are free to set their own curriculum. These standards have not been entirely well-received by educators and parents. What are the sides? Only one Republican supported Common Core standards during Thursday’s debate despite the way CNN’s Jake Tapper presented the question. “The Common Core standards were developed by the states, states and localities voluntarily adopt them, and they come up
with their own curriculum to meet those standards,” Tapper noted. Both Donald Trump and Ted Cruz voiced their major issues with Common Core with Trump calling the standards “Education through Washington, D.C.” and Ted Cruz noting his plan to end Common Core. “Common Core is a disaster. And if I am elected president, in the first days as president, I will direct the Department of Education that Common Core ends that day.” Trump’s point of education coming from Washington, D.C. is a big area of concern for many people. Though Tapper is right, the Common Core standards are voluntarily adopted, he didn’t mention the race-to-the-top funds that encouraged states to adopt common core and rewarded them with federal funding if they did. Since Common Core has been adopted, many teachers have taken issue with the lack of creativity the standards allow. Teachers feel there are too many standards that need to be met and it takes away the flexibility in the their lesson plans. They are unable to enhance the learning experience by delving into one topic because there simply isn’t enough time to do so and reach all the Common Core standards. On the other side of the
debate for the Republicans is candidate John Kasich. “Well, look, all I’m in favor of in Ohio is high standards,” Kasich said. Kasich went on to explain that in Ohio, where he is currently governor, the state school board set the standards and the local school boards develop of the curriculum. He finished by clarifying he supports common core when implemented with local control and high state standards. Why should you care? The goal of the Common Core State Standards was to tackle the glaring educational issues in our country. As Tapper noted in the debate, American students currently rank 27th out of 34 in math and 17th in reading. Common Core’s goal is ensure students are ready for the college level work and their careers throughout the entire country. Their hope is that it doesn’t matter where you live. You’ll get a great education. Whether Common Core’s strategy is the best way to tackle the problem is only where the debate begins. Does Common Core create more problems than it solves? Can we improve our education system without it? It’s a debate worth keeping an eye on since the future of our country begins with primary and secondary education.
THE OAKLAND POST Address 61 Oakland Center, Rochester, MI 48309 Phone 248.370.4263 Web www.oaklandpostonline.com Email editor@oaklandpostonline.com
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Editor-in-Chief editor@oaklandpostonline.com 248-370-4268
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Managing Editor managing@oaklandpostonline.com 248-370-2537
Nowshin Chowdhury
Photo Editor photos@oaklandpostonline.com 248-370-4266
sections
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Rachel Williams Campus Editor rlwillia@oakland.edu
Megan Carson Chief Copy Editor Morgan Dean Copy Editor Nicholas Kim Copy Editor Faith Brody Copy Editor Brian Curtin Copy Intern
Grace Turner Life Editor gmturner@oakland.edu Cheyanne Kramer Web Editor ckkramer@oakland.edu Sam Schlenner Sports Editor swschlen@oakland.edu
Erika Barker Photographer Dongfu Han Photographer Bohdanna Cherstylo Photographer Elyse Gregory Photographer Kylie Wichtner Photo Intern
writers Ally Racey Staff Reporter Katlynn Emaus Staff Reporter Shelby Tankersley Staff Reporter Alexus Bomar Staff Reporter Sarah Lawrence Staff Reporter Melissa Deatsch Staff Reporter Amy Swanson Staff Reporter Jake Smith Intern Hannah Gorosh Intern
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Corrections Corner -In last week’s issue on the Mix page, we didn’t change the title of the WXOU Album of the week. It should have said #4 Marlon Williams— “Marlon Williams”. -The “Last Week’s Poll” was also not changed in last week’s issue. It should have said the results that option A received two votes, option B and option C received six votes each, and that option D received zero votes. -In the March 2 center spread (the Horizon League Men’s Basketball Championship preview), the scores of Green Bay’s two games with Oakland this season were incorrect. The correct scores are 111-95 Oakland on Jan. 23 and 111-93 Oakland on Feb. 13. -In the March 9 article “Hovland goes down in history,” the photo caption incorrectly said Hovland coached the men’s team to its 28th consecutive league title. The correct figure is the 38th consecutive league title, also in this article, it said in the subhead that Hovland was inducted into the Michigan Sports Hall of Fame. He will be inducted, but has not been yet. It also stated Hovland was a “23-time All-American conference coach of the year.” Hovland is a 23-time All-American and 23-time conference coach of the year. The Oakland Post corrects all errors of fact. If you know of an error, please e-mail oakpostmanaging@gmail.com or call 248.370.2537. You can also write us at 61 Oakland Center Rochester, MI 48309.
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The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Perspectives
The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.
The Real Deal: Protecting the environment Conservation of world we inhabit is no longer a partisan issue Aditya Tiwari Contributor
B
efore I get to this week’s article, I’d like to take the time to make some confessions and disclaimers before we get to the content of this article. To begin with, I understand the implied hypocrisy in lecturing people to care about the environment by using a paper medium. I understand I’m not an authority or pundit on the subject, nor am I the most knowledgeAdi Tiwari able or even Contributor involved ‘environmentalist’ in the grand scheme of things. At best, I’m a concerned citizen, and at worst, I’m a rambling imbecile. Yet in spite of all this, I know not
what else to care for, or fight for. The issues of the environment are not a third tier issue for political debates, nor are they the domain of a niche crowd. They’re among the most critical of our time. Historically, the United States and its political systems have seemed to at least give an iota of attention to the issue of the environment. During the ‘Progressive Era’ of the late 1800s and the early 1900s, Theodore Roosevelt and other progressive Republicans spearheaded the conservation movement, and were able to establish the Forest Service, 5 national parks, and numerous other projects that created 230,000,000 acres of conserved land. The last of the ‘Progressive Era’ presidents, Woodrow Wilson, continued this on by passing the establishment of the National Parks Service, along with numerous other public works and river projects. In President Franklin Roosevelt’s New Deal to address the numerous problems onset by the Great De-
pression, including the disaster of the dust bowls in the Midwest, the environment was also given priority, with the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps in FDR’s first 100 days, addressing both employment and soil erosion. Even shifty Richard Nixon allowed for the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), along with the clean air and water acts. Societally, we’ve never been this separate from the natural world either. Not only have American scientists made strides in clean energy, climate science, and the like, but our nation has historically had a spirit for the outdoors and exploration. So what do we have to show for it today? According to the Pew Research Center, only 51 percent of Americans view the protection of the environment as a top priority, with only 38 percent viewing the issue of climate change as a top priority, with an evident partisan divide amongst
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respondents. In the United States congress alone, 131 members in the house deny climate change, while 38 members in the Senate also deny it, these members being of the conservative persuasion. Fifth-two percent of the US population also denies climate change at this rate. Granted this article has been a dragging rant, I would urge you to think on this. We all do subscribe to some sort of ideology, but we all share the planet. I would urge you to do a little research of your own into the science of the environment, not just Fox News propaganda. I’d urge you to watch Planet Earth on Netflix. I implore you to look into the campaign contributions to members of both parties and find the fossil fuel industry rear its ugly head. Life on this planet will survive, but it’s ultimately up to us to decide if we want to keep ourselves on this planet or not, and politics will have to keep up with science, for that to happen.
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Babysitting Help Wanted Carpools Misc., etc.
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*All advertising submitted for publication in The Oakland Post is subject to acceptance by the newspaper, and The Oakland Post reserves the right to reject copy at its sole discretion at any time prior to publication.
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March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
www.oaklandpostonline.com
Perspectives
Grizzlies on the Prowl If you could have unlimited anything, what would it be? Shannon O’Connor Sophmore, Women & Gender Studies “Energy because I never have enough of it.”
Amy Brown Freshman, Theatre Design & Technology “Classic books because I like that writing style.”
Mike Pingel Junior, Marketing “Bosco sticks. They satisfy my stomach.”
Brian Quinn Jr. Freshman, History & Political Science “History books. I enjoy reading. It’s a lot of fun and a good use of time.” —Compiled by Nowshin Chowdhury & Elyse Gregory, Photo Editor & Photographer
POLICE FILES Alcohol in Hamlin Hall
On March 8, Night Watch called OUPD to Hamlin Hall to investigate a minor in possession of alcohol. When the officers arrived at the room, they could hear people inside. When they knocked on the door and stated who they were, the people fell silent. OUPD entered the room, observed five students and noticed one had a stain on their pants. The officer asked if they had soiled himself or spilled a drink. The student said that they spilled a drink. The student was then given an MIP.
Minors in possession in Hamlin Hall
A Resident Advisor (RA) called OUPD about a resident they believed had alcohol in their room. The student had locked themself out of their room and asked the RA to unlock their door but not to call OUPD. Upon entering the room, OUPD found two wine bottles and a few cups filled with wine. Three students had been drinking and all three were issued MIPs for underage drinking. —Compiled by Shelby Tankersley, Staff Reporter www.oaklandpostonline.com
The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Perspectives
The views expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily represent those of The Oakland Post.
A better yOU: Caffeine fiend Katie Rose Contributor
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f you are like most college students, you probably have some sort of caffeine addiction. We often use caffeine as an alternative to getting enough sleep when we’re up all night studying, partying or catching up on Netflix. Whether it’s coffee, energy drinks, tea or another form of caffeine, it’s no surprise that about 90 percent of adults consume caffeine every day. Caffeine is a stimulant, and KATIE ROSE many rely on their Contributor morning cup of joe to get them through the day. Yes, caffeine may make us feel more energized, but is it good for us? Research shows that caffeine can help prevent diabetes, stroke, cardiovascular disease and some cancers as well as reduce the risk of dementia and Parkin-
son’s; In addition, it can improve memory and concentration. About 300 to 400 milligrams of caffeine, or about three to four cups of coffee per day, is considered the safe amount. Isn’t it great to know that we can have our coffee and drink it too (or whatever that saying is)? However, caffeine does have its disadvantages. When we drink too much caffeine, we start to become dependent on it. Remember that caffeine is a drug, and you can have withdrawals from it. Obviously, you’ll never see someone admitted to a rehab facility for caffeine withdrawal. So, as we know, people that drink caffeine daily are not serious “drug users” and will only experience mild symptoms including headache, increased fatigue, anxiety, irritability and reduced concentration for maybe a few days. If you need to cut back on caffeine consumption, it might be a good idea to do this gradually to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Caffeine can also disrupt sleep patterns and cause insomnia, increase blood pressure and blood glucose levels, cause acid reflux and decrease bone
density. However, if you stick with low doses of caffeine on occasion, your risk of these caffeine cons is fairly low. Despite these correlations between caffeine consumption and its effects on our health, there is still research being conducted to confirm these effects. “Researchers haven’t found exactly what causes these benefits,” according to AARP. “It could be, for example, that coffee drinkers are more active and social. Or it could be that one of the more than 1,000 compounds that coffee naturally contains boosts our health. We don’t know.” So, keep on drinking those delicious lattes, espressos, and Red Bulls, but do so in moderation. Disclaimer: I am not a medical professional. This article is for informational purposes only. No guarantee made as to the accuracy of this information. If you are in need of medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment, contact Oakland University Graham Health Center at 248-370-2341. Resources: WebMD, AARP.org, Mayo Clinic
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March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
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Campus Housing marketing positions developed to focus on creativity Sarah Lawrence Staff Reporter
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Dani Cojocari / Oakland Post Archives
President George Hynd talked to the Oakland Post last year about his plans regarding the future of Oakland University.
Hynd discusses spending of tuition raise money Two semesters after 8.4 percent tuition raise, funds generated go toward strategic plan Grace Turner Life Editor
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U President George Hynd met with Oakland Post and WXOU employees on Tuesday, March 15 to discuss exactly how the 2015-16 tuition raise was used. The money from the 8.48 percent tuition increase generated nearly $13 million and helped fulfill goals outlined in Oakland University’s three-pronged strategic plan.
Goal 1: Foster student success – $6,677,952 About $4 million was added to financial aid. The university hired 11 faculty members and four academic advisors. They also put $525,260 toward retention and general education efforts and $125,000 to Student Support Services to improve handicapped accommodations. Four full-time psychologists were hired by the Graham Health Center and a retention coordinator was hired to www.oaklandpostonline.com
the Oakland University Trustee Academic Success Program.
Goal 2: Research – $577,484 The library received $79,824 to increase its collection. Most was spent on academic journals, Hynd said. According to Hynd, $197,660 was used for labs and teaching spaces and $300,000 was spent on research support and equipment. Goal 3: Community outreach – $5,710,000 Hynd said $350,000 added career services and internships to the School of Engineering and Computer Science and the School of Business Administration. The tuition also paid for $5,360,000 of technological improvements. Hynd made it clear that all of the money generated from the tuition increase went into OU’s strategic plan. None went to future construction projects or the controversial chief operating officer position. However, renovation of the Oakland Center and Elliott Hall and the building of the new residence hall has already been budgeted for. Next year’s budget will not include these expenses. OU violated the state’s 3.2 percent tuition increase cap in July 2015 and therefore didn’t get any money from the state. How-
ever, the tuition increase generated about $12 million. The state would have given only $1.2 million to OU, according to the Detroit Free Press. OU’s overall budget as of July 2015 was $253 million. According to Hynd, Michigan only gives OU around $2,700 per student. “We are still, per student, the lowest funded state institution in the state,” Hynd said. Students at University of Michigan and Michigan State University get about $6,000 per student. The average for all public universities in Michigan is $4,700 per student. Tuition increases from two to 2.5 percent every year to keep up with inflation, but Hynd said that OU will not violate this year’s state cap. Michigan Governor Rick Snyder wants to increase state funding for all higher education, but Michigan’s legislature has to pass any increases, Hynd said. In the meantime, administration will work on two budgets — one assuming that OU will receive more money from the state and one assuming that state contribution will stay the same. Hynd said he hopes to finalize the budget with the board of trustees in May or June. Until then, Hynd described the budgeting for next year as a game of cat and mouse. Stories on other topics discussed will follow.
f you are looking for a way to become involved with Oakland University Housing, but missed traditional position deadlines, you’re in luck. After months of deliberation and development of job titles and descriptions, Oakland University Housing has made the decision to offer four new marketing specialist positions focused on the fields of creativity. The new positions, which will comprise the Undergraduate Marketing Specialists team, are built to complement the summer team. These individuals will also work during the fall and winter semesters to promote various housing and residential events for students on campus. The housing department is focused on these internal efforts to make information about housing events easily accessible to residents as a method of increasing population and participation in oncampus activities. University Housing is working to continue its long history of including residents in its marketing decisions with the addition of these new positions by including residents in brochures, posters and other marketing materials. The descriptions are as follows:
Graphic Design Specialist: Design departmental communication for digital signage, web and social media. Successful candidate will have experience of interest in graphic design and be moderately proficient in Adobe CS. Videography Specialist: Creating promotional videos for housing and capturing footage of departmental functions. Successful candidate will have experience or interest in learning videography and be moderately proficient in video editing software. Social Media Specialist:
Managing an interactive social media presence by posting real-time content from attending housing events. Successful candidate will have experience of interest in social media management, blogging and be moderately proficient in using Hootsuite.
Photography Specialist: Capturing photos of departmental functions and cooperate with the specialist of Social Media to post pictures. Successful candidate will have experience or interest in photography and be moderately proficient in Photoshop. In order to apply for any of these positions, applicants must not have any experience working with University Housing. They are not required to live on campus. Candidates should expect to work 15 hours per week, be in good disciplinary standing with the university and possess an overall GPA of at least 2.75. “We are so excited to offer these positions because they are unlike any University Housing position we have had in the past,” Garnett said. “These will open job opportunities for those who are interested in creative, artistic and communicative pursuits. With this, we are looking for individuals who possess qualities such as creativity, imagination, and talent in the areas of design, photography, videography, social media and writing. Applicants should enjoy working in a collaborative, team atmosphere and be willing to attend university functions and events, according to Garnett. For more information about how to apply for a position on the Undergraduate Marketing Specialists team, individuals may visit OU CareerLink or visit the University Housing website. Applications will be accepted online until Friday, March 18. Any additional questions may be directed to Kelly Garnett at krgarnet@oakland.edu.
The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Campus
Deaf Coffee Night brings together ASL community Cheyanne Kramer Web Editor
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Photo courtesy of Brooke Shepard
Voting for OUSC elections will close March 18 at 11 p.m. Students can vote online at oakland.edu/voteou.
OUSC presidential debate kicks off election week Grace Turner Life Editor
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andidates presented their visions for a better OU at the Oakland University Student Congress presidential debate. Tim Brown and Zack Thomas both tried to convince an audience in Banquet Room A that they have what it takes to be the voice of OU’s student body. Brown said that he wants to be OUSC president because OU has given him so much in three years. “It’s time for me to give back,” Brown said. Thomas said he wants to serve students first. Both candidates agreed that the job of the president is to bring to light the needs of students. “They are … going to represent unique needs of every unique student,” Thomas said. Brown added that the president bridges the gap between administration and students in order for administration to hear student concerns. Brown said that a connection between himself and the administration already exists, thanks to his involvement on campus and through Student Congress Executive Board. “There will be no ‘hey, nice
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to meet you,’” he said. Thomas said that he has already made connections as well through the executive team at OUSC. However, he also said that a difference in the candidates’ platforms is that he believes Brown plans on working for, rather than with, administration. Thomas said he wants to work with administration while standing up for students and encouraging transparency. In a rebuttal, Brown said OUSC has to approach the administration in a friendly manner. Aggression is not effective. However, Thomas replied that administration doesn’t always like to work with OUSC and reminded students of the COO hiring, tuition increase and board of trustees and administration trip to Florida. As for strengths and weaknesses, both candidates said that their weakness is putting too much on their plates. Brown said that his greatest strength is his ability to build relationships with people as soon as he meets them. Thomas said that his is that he’s available, open to ideas and wants to help others. Current OUSC president Nick Walter spoke about the significance of the presiden-
March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
tial debate and position. “[The president] is 21,000 voices in one person,” Walter said. Walter said he thinks that both candidates are excellent choices, so a lot of who will be elected will be based on the platform. However, there was no specific question about platforms. According to Brown’s website, he and vice presidential candidate Griffin DiMaggio are pushing for increased spirit, especially through athletic events; renovations, including the library, Varner Hall and the OC; better safety, and continuing some OUSC’s current programs. For more details, visit allinforou2016.com/index.html. According to Thomas’ website, Thomas and vice presidential candidate Anders Engnell want a parking solution, increased administrative transparency, social justice on campus, to get OU students involved in the nation’s political process and to change OUSC internal operations and how it interacts with students. For more details, visit servingstudentsfirst.com. Voting opens Monday, March 14 at 8 a.m. and closes Friday, March 18 at 11 p.m. Students can vote online at oakland.edu/voteou.
akland students have the chance to interact with people in their community who communicate primarily through American Sign Language (ASL) in a monthly Deaf Coffee Night. Drew Marczewski and Jessie Vasquez, both in their first semester of ASL courses at OU, attended the event on March 4. At first, many of the students communicated with spoken English before being approached by students and deaf people. By the end of the night, it had turned into people rapidly moving from person-to-person, introducing themselves to one person then another. “The deaf community is extremely close-knit and they reached out to us students,” Marczewski said. Vasquez said the hardest part of the night was her limited vocabulary. “I had the grammar and vocabulary of a two year old [in ASL], so trying to get my point across was hard,” Vasquez said. “But everyone was so friendly and so willing to help.” One person on campus who uses ASL as a primary way of communication is Tim Johnston, an ASL professor. He’s been teaching ASL at OU for four years. “As a deaf person and a native signer, a continuing passion to teach and educate others grew as I recognized the benefits to the students and the deaf community,” he said. Despite his passion for teaching ASL, there is no interpreter program offered at OU, nor is there an ASL degree program at OU. All that is offered is six courses. “I guess I understand why OU doesn’t have one, since OCC’s program is so great and I can get my feet wet here,” Vasquez said. Isabella Wilde is a student who is dual-enrolled at OCC and Oakland University, and is part of the sign language program at OCC. “After completing ASL I, II and III, I officially enrolled as a student in the Sign Language Interpreter (SLI) program at OCC,” Wilde said.
“It’s just a little trickier coordinating the schedules and commutes for the two different institutions.” Vasquez, Marczewski and Wilde all had one thing in common — their professors were all deaf and used ASL as a primary way of communication. “Total immersion like that forces you to become more receptive and figure out ways to communicate questions or comments, even when you may not know exactly how to sign it,” Wilde said. The university also does not recognize ASL as a foreign language, though the Honors College does. Jeff Youngquist, the chairperson of the communication and journalism department, explained the way in which taking an ASL course fits into courses offered by the university. “The university does not consider the ASL classes to meet the general education requirement for Foreign Language and Culture,” Youngquist said. Wilde thought it may be difficult to enact a program at Oakland, but thought it would be beneficial. “There is a shortage of certified interpreters in Michigan so I think any additional program would be helpful,” she said. Johnston said that right now, there is a push to get the ASL program to meet the university requirement for meeting the foreign language and vulture general education requirement. Currently, students who take ASL courses here take them as part of the communication department. “There is a plan to expand the ASL program if there is enough interest from students,” Johnston said. ASL courses are offered in the fall through the communication department. Communication majors and Honors College students can use ASL to meet their foreign language requirements. For students wishing to attend the next Deaf Coffee Night, the event is held on the first Friday night of every month at the Starbucks at Great Lakes Crossing.
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Campus
Photo courtesy of Haylie Presnell
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Voters in the Michigan primaries who casted their ballot last week received a sticker.
Student orgs aim to educate on importance of voting Rachel Williams
Campus Editor
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n the March 2 issue of the Oakland Post, Professor John Stoll reported that of 157 Oakland University students polled, 38 percent were undecided on a presidential candidate. Several students stated that they did not know enough about the race to properly choose a candidate. Student organizations like College Democrats of Oakland University and College Republicans are attempting to inform the campus community on politics and to encourage everyone to get out and vote. Both student organizations hold special events in which speakers like local business owners and state representatives speak to the groups on current issues. According to Stoll’s poll, hot topics for college students in this presidential election are the high cost of college tuition, health care and immigration. Despite these important issues facing the college demographic, according to Tyler Fox, president of College Democrats of Oakland University, in 2014 during a midterm election, only 10 www.oaklandpostonline.com
percent of college-aged citizens voted out of the 25 percent total number of people who cast their ballot. So why are students not voting? “When people think about politics, they think about D.C.,” Andrew Baker, president of College Republicans, said. “They think about international policies that don’t affect [them]. But in actuality, politics affects everything.” Fox believes that a lack of faith in the system is to blame. “For the longest time, college students in my generation have been told that the system is broken,” Fox said. “That the system will never change and that there is no point. As a result, it’s fulfilled itself.” Student organizations like College Democrats of Oakland University and College Republicans aim to educate students on the importance of politics and making informed decisions. College Republicans host debate-watching parties, where students can discuss the policies and topics mentioned during the debate. The group is also able to put students directly in contact with certain state repre-
sentatives for any questions. College Democrats of Oakland University circulate a newsletter and inform students through their social media pages, and hold general meetings. Both groups provide volunteer opportunities for different political campaigns in order to get students directly involved in the political process. Other student organizations dedicated to educating students on politics include Pi Sigma Alpha and Student Congress. Student Congress has created a free service that allows students to register online. The website fills in voter information and allows students to download the proper forms then mail them in free of charge. For more information, email Zack Thomas at zmthomas@ oakland.edu or visit oakland. turbovote.org. “People don’t think it affects them,” Baker said in reference to the voting process. “That’s clearly not the case.” “They’ve (students) been told that their vote does not matter when, in fact, their vote matters more than anyone,” Fox said. To stay informed, reach out to student organizations.
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The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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BILL NYE SCIENCE GUY THE
A
VOTER’S
STORY BY CHEYANNE KRAMER DESIGN BY SARAH LAWRENCE PHOTOS BY BOHDANNA CHERSTYLO
CONCERN
Nye has worked with issues of concerns to voters throughout his career. His presentation slide talked about how 2015 was the hottest year that had ever been recorded, and it was the fourth year since 2000 that broke that record. He had a few theories about climate change, which he discussed in his lecture. Nye accounted his experience of attending the 1965 World’s Fair, where he just missed seeing the world population clock tick down from 2,999,999,999 to 3,000,000,000 people. Today, there are now over 7,311,599,520 people alive on earth. Nye proposes one of the reasons why the world has become so warm is just from the sheer volume of people breathing and expelling carbon dioxide into the air. Another theory he had is that the world’s atmosphere itself was very thin, explaining that if you could drive a car straight up into the air, you could pass through the atmosphere in only a couple of hours. He brought up how a group of students in Stanford University created a state-bystate plan that would eliminate the need for natural gas usage, proposing that it was possible to remove the need for natural gas and thus cut down carbon dioxide emissions. “Conservative ideology and climate change can overlap,” Nye said. “The earth is not cooling again. That’s fundamentally wrong, that’s not right.” Nye also showed a picture of the republican candidates, and said all four of them denied climate change.
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March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
INTRODUCING BILL
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illiam Nye, or as most know him, Bill Nye the Science Guy, visited campus on the night of Monday, March 14. He talked about his life and childhood, his views on climate change and threw in an occasional joke in front of a packed O’rena. James Lentini, senior provost at Oakland University, introduced Bill Nye to the crowd of thousands of spectators Monday night. Below are some facts Lentini shared about Bill Nye before the Science Guy himself spoke: 1.) Tickets were gone within a few hours of them going on sale. 2.) He has doctorates from six universities. 3.) “Bill Nye the Science Guy” has 19 Emmys for writing, performing, directing and more. 4.) “Usually tickets only sell this fast for rock stars ... Bill is our academic celebrity.” 5.) The lecture was put on by the Varner Vitality Lecture Series, with help from Jean Ann Miller and the Student Life Lecture Board.
Oakland University Senior Provost James Lentini introduced Bill Nye at the event March 14, which was hosted by the Varner Vitality Lecture Series.
BILL’S FAVORITE BLOOPER “It took many years to laugh at this story,” Nye said. He explained first to the audience what happens when you boil water in a metal pop can and turn it over into a bowl of cold water. The can would crush from the dramatic change in temperature and pressure. He then told how he tried to do the same experiment with a repurpose oil barrel, and decided he should try and get it to collapse with a fire extinguisher to rapidly cool it down. “The chips of ice just didn’t work, I even pounded on it, trying to get it to collapse,” he said. He explained that after the fact, he found putting the oil barrel into a kiddie pool filled with ice water to be the best way to cool it down rapidly enough to crush it. www.oaklandpostonline.com
BILL’S FAVORITE EPISODE Most people know William Sanford “Bill” Nye for his roll on the children’s television show “Bill Nye The Science Guy”. “Bill Nye the Science Guy,” which spanned the length of 100 episodes, aired on PBS from Sept. 10 1993 - June 20 1998. Most episodes contained experiments for viewers to try at home, as well as Bill himself explaining scientific terms and situations to the children watching at home. So which one was Bill’s favorite episode? “If you decide to be a Broadway dancer, you never say who your favorite dance partner is! ... So I’ll never tell my favorite part. But the episode with the Blue Angel Fighter Plane was pretty cool, I’ll give you that.” Bill Nye’s presentation touched on not only his personal life, but also his opinions on climate change with his signature sense of humor.
JOKES WITH
BILL NYE Nye’s lecture lasted around an hour before he opened up the floor for a Q & A session, followed by a book signing for anybody in the audience who had a copy of “Undeniable: Evolution and the Science of Creation.” The book, which he published in 2014, was also for sale at the event. During the lecture, Nye kept the audience entertained by cracking a few jokes: “Hawaii is a state, by the way. If you’re born in Hawaii, you’re from the U.S. That’s a so-called fact-based statement!” “[The Mars sky was like] one of the colors on women’s stockings, maybe in the upper left. I don’t wear them. But I am a huge fan!” “Both Rovers all in were about 450 million dollars each, near one billion dollars in total. They took nearly 20 years with design, and they aren’t even locked!” Nye spoke before a crowd of thousands of people in the O’rena. Afterwards, he sat for a book signing for fans in attendance.
ATTENDEES FAVORITE MOMENTS Lauren Ulinski, Freshman “My favorite part was when he talked about space! It was cool to hear how we’re all really just a little speck. We’re so insignificant, but we’re significant to the world at the same time.” Andrew Vojinov, Junior “I liked hearing about how great the future can be, if we tried. It was inspiring.”
www.oaklandpostonline.com
Conservative ideology and climate change can overlap. The earth is not cooling again. That’s fundamentally wrong, that’s not right. The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Life
Gold Vibrations serenades its way to New York City
Photo courtesy of Sarah Maskill
Oakland’s a capella group, Gold Vibrations, won semifinals in Chicago and will be advancing to New York.
Alexus Bomar Staff Reporter
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U’s Gold Vibrations (GV), an a cappella group, won first place on March 5 at the Varsity Vocals International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella (ICCA) semifinal in Chicago. The group will compete in the finals in April at the Beacon Theatre in New York City. Oakland is one of only 10 schools from the United States and United Kingdom to earn a spot in the finals. The winner will receive the ICCA’s top prize, the Gooding Cup. According to the Varsity Vocals website, the group took first place with a score of 394 points. Before winning the semifinal, the group won first place in the ICCA Great Lakes quarterfinal in February. “[To prepare for a competition], we try to stay in the right mind, figure out who else is competing and how we rank to them,” tenor Noah Hubbard, a sophomore studying cinema studies, said. At ICCA competitions, each group is given 12 minutes to perform its set, which usually consists of three or four songs. Groups are judged based on a variety of factors including choreography, vocal percussion and tone.
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In the past, the group has performed “Uptown Funk,” “Ordinary People,” and “Say Something.” “[The audience should] expect the same fun-filled team,” Hubbard said. “More polished and more fun.” “Each year, we sing different songs … each group performs different songs but sometimes you get doubles,” Vice President Erin Ben-Moche, soprano and journalism major, said. According to its GoFundMe page, the team never expected to place in the top 10 collegiate a cappella groups in the country, but they want more than anything to be able to represent OU at the ICCA finals and show the world what they are capable of. “[The audience should know that] we will do the best we can [in NYC] and just have fun,” baritone and bass Brian Baylor, a junior studying musical theatre and psychology, said. “We aren’t all music students, but music brings us together, and our goal is to have fun,” Joe Danz, president and junior studying information technology, said. GV created a GoFundMe campaign to raise funds to help cover the cost of the flight and hotel. It reached its goal of $6,500 on March 14. The page opened on March 8. The group
March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
released a thank-you video on its GoFundMe page and Facebook page. According to Danz, the group has a fall and spring performance every year. The group also competes in the ICCA in the winter and attends other events that it’s invited to. Before the finals in NYC, GV will host its annual spring concert, “Harry Potter and the Aca PalOUza!” at Avondale High School on March 25 at 7:30 p.m. The performance includes OU’s GV as Hufflepuff, Central Michigan University’s Central Harmony A Cappella as Gryffindor, Grand Valley State University’s GV Groove as Ravenclaw and Michigan State University’s State of Fifths as Slytherin. Tickets will be sold in the OC near the Pioneer Food Court for $5 on Monday, March 21 through Friday, March 25 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. At the door, tickets are $5 for high school students and younger, $8 for college students, and $10 for adults. To find out more about OU Gold Vibrations, visit ougoldvibrations.com or find them on Facebook as OU Gold Vibrations, Twitter and Instagram @gold_vibrations or youtube. com/OUGoldVibrations.
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Campus
Event explores secret identities of superhero creators Rabbi Joseph Klein draws parallels between comic books, biblical tales, shares connection to war Amy Swanson Staff Reporter
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hat do Superman, Batman and Spiderman all have in common, other than the tight spandex? They were all created by Jewish people. The Jewish origins of comic book superheroes was discussed on March 8 at the Religious Studies and Center for Religious Understandings (CRU) event, Superman’s Secret Identity. It took place from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Gold Room B of the OC. The featured speaker was Rabbi Joseph Klein, professor of religious studies at Oakland University, and it was open to all OU students, staff, faculty and the public. Klein said the story began at the end of the 19th century, when Jews fled Europe to America. This included his own grandparents. Jewish people still faced anti-Semitism in the U.S., and so many talented artists and creators found themselves in the less popular area of literature, the comic book industry. While they were now free, they still
had to convince the American population that they didn’t pose a threat and presented themselves as harmless and passive. However, that wouldn’t get them far in life. “They knew that in order to succeed, the Jew would have to become a man of action disguised as a man of inaction,” Klein said. The characters were developed by Jews who saw themselves in their creations. While seeming weak and cowardly on the outside, beneath held something much greater. This is similar to heroes such as Clark Kent. Just like Jewish creators hid their own religious identities with non-Jewish names, the heroes were concealed by their normal persona. Klein discussed how many of the stories were rebranded biblical stories the creators heard as children. He gave the example of Superman. Superman’s parents sent him to earth in a rocket ship, similar to the ark of baby Moses who survived the Pharaoh’s decree to kill all Hebrew boys. Just like Superman, Moses struggled to find his place as an immigrant in a new world and ultimately saved his people.
Elyse Gregory / The Oakland Post
Using multimedia at the event, Rabbi Joseph Klein told the stories of superhero creators.
Klein concluded in saying how proud he was at what these people accomplished. “Superheroes are such a mainstay in the memories and lives of many people, and for me it’s neat that they all came from Jews, and makes me feel good as a Jew myself,” he said. Alan Epstein, director of CRU, found the discussion intriguing. “You can have a comic book story show the yearnings of people who felt oppressed and not welcome in their new land, using it as a way to assert themselves and find their own identity,” Epstein said. Cassi Sluka, majoring in human re-
sources management, likes how these events get her thinking. “The more you learn about different groups of people, the better overall understanding you have about the world around you,” Sluka said. Wendy Ellington, majoring in environmental science, felt similarly. “I connect ideas in my classes to these outside lectures. It brings in a new way to conceive ideas,” Ellington said. The next CRU event is titled the Artistic Depictions of Christ Over Time, featuring Dr. Randy Engel. It is on March 22 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. in Gold Room A. Visit the CRU website or Facebook page for more information.
A furry friend can help students de-stress and succeed Alexus Bomar Staff Reporter
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very student who has studied in Kresge Library during final exams or strolled through the Oakland Center knows that when the puppies come, it’s time to stop everything and relax with them. According to Whitney Dominick, graduate student in the social psychology program, being around dogs has been shown to reduce anxiety, lower heart rate and decrease subjective pain ratings. “People around dogs were able to generate more life goals and feel more confident about achieving those goals compared to people not with their pets, and people with pets have better self-perceptions of health and fewer chronic conditions,” Dominick said. Research from the University of Missouri-Columbia stated
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that a few minutes of stroking a dog prompts a release of a number of “feel good” hormones in humans, including serotonin, prolactin and oxytocin. “Three to five minutes of skin-to-skin contact will release oxytocin in the brain and give us a clearer mind,” Amy Johnson, school of nursing marketing manager and director, said. According to NBC News, numerous studies have shown that dogs can help lower blood pressure, ease the loneliness of the elderly in nursing homes and help children overcome allergies. Not only are the dogs helping us relax and destress, we are helping them, especially the leader dogs in training. According to Johnson, the leader dogs in training need to be socialized. “The job of a puppy raiser is to expose the puppy to as many different environments, people
and sounds as possible,” Johnson said. Many dogs are trained to become guide dogs for the visually impaired. According to CNN, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) defines service animals as dogs individually trained to do work or perform tasks for a person with a disability. Tasks range from calming a veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder to retrieving keys from a hook on the wall. Something students must pay attention to is the dogs’ body language because according to Dominick, it can sometimes be stressful for the dogs to be around too many new people at once. Their body language will show that. As for human stress, there are different types. “Acute stress is temporary and characterized by high levels of arousal with clear onset
and offset patterns,” Dominick said via email. “Chronic stress is a continuous state of arousal in which you perceive demands as greater than the resources you have to deal/cope with them.” There are many other ways a student can de-stress besides petting a puppy, including physical exercise and mediation. The Campus Recreation
Center is a place that can help students de-stress. The rec offers group exercise (GroupX) fitness classes for physical activity, stress management and social interaction. Dominick suggested that coloring, especially mandalas (repetitive, typically circular patterns), spending time in nature, eating right and getting enough sleep are other ways a student can de-stress.
Elyse Gregory / The Oakland Post
Students interact with one of the service dogs during winter break.
The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Life
Sunshine Week sheds light on media During a week dedicated to promoting transparency, the Post examines Oakland administration Shelby Tankersley Staff Reporter
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appy Sunshine Week folks. Each year, America devotes seven days to stressing the importance of transparency. Sunshine Week was established in 2005 and has one goal: To educate people on the importance of government being honest with the media. After all, the media is the way most people learn about what’s going on in the world. “There are many countries where the people and the press are not free to speak,” Garry Gilbert, journalism program director, said. “We all pay taxes, you pay tuition, shouldn’t we have a right to know what happens with that money?” Two weeks ago, a Turkish newspaper was put under government control because the government didn’t like what the reporters had to say, according to The Guardian. Journalists here don’t have to worry about getting in trouble for critiquing politicians. It’s part of the job.
“There are many countries where the people and the press are not free to speak. We all pay taxes, you pay tuition, shouldn’t we have a right to know what happens with that money?” Garry Gilbert, Journalism Program Director “As consumers of the news, we have to insist that the news can give us a fair assessment of what’s going on,” Gilbert said. In other words, freedom of the press matters just as much for the reader as it does for the reporter. And it’s up to journalists to be transparent with
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March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
Photo courtesy of Oakland Communication and Marketing
The goal of Sunshine Week is to educate the public on the importance of transparency, an issue that has been called to attention at Oakland.
the reader. “I feel like we should be fair, even if we don’t agree with something,” Katie Sloan, a junior studying journalism, said. “And readers can be more informed if they open their minds to other views.” OU has a little government of its own that consists of administrators and the board of trustees. While citizens pay tax dollars, students pay tuition. Because of that, the university should be honest with its students. Here’s a few examples of when OU was transparent or not so transparent with the Oakland Post and students.
The COO position The hiring of Scott Kunselman as the COO created quite a stir at OU in the fall of 2015. Many students and fac-
ulty felt that there should have been a national search instead of the quiet hiring of a former board of trustees member. And after the tuition raise, students were not happy that the new COO would be making six figures a year.
Beckie Francis firing The previous president of OU Gary Russi’s wife, Beckie Francis, was the coach of the women’s basketball team. A controversial firing of Francis in 2012 caused Russi to step down from his position shortly after. While all of this was going on, an athletics employee, who remained anonymous when speaking with the Oakland Post, said he or she was paid to keep quiet about the university. This employee said he was well-aware of contro-
versy surrounding Francis.
Eric Norman reaching out to students Last year when OU was in the midst of conducting a national search for a new Vice President of Student Affairs, the last three candidates all spoke to students and faculty about what they would accomplish should they be chosen for the job. After his presentation, Eric Norman met with a few student organizations, including the Post, so they could voice their concerns and ask him questions. Norman was the only candidate who did this and the students who were in attendance greatly appreciated his effort to reach out to them. Ultimately, he was not chosen for the job. Long-time
Golden Grizzly Glenn McIntosh was picked for the position.
Oakland opens up about professor stalking a student In 2011, a professor named Srinarayan Sharma was charged with stalking a student. He ended up being sentenced to 30 days in jail. While the trial was going on, Glenn McIntosh, who was Dean of Students at the time, along with others who were involved in the trial, spoke to the Post about the incident and what students should do if something similar were to happen to them. Because of this, the Post was able to provide extensive coverage on the matter.
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themix 10 INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT ST. PATRICK’S DAY 1. St. Patrick was British.
TOP TUNES wxou albums of the week
9. One hundred lbs. of green dye are poured into the Chicago River on St. Patrick’s Day.
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
10. The three-leaved shamrock was used by St. Patrick to explain the Holy Trinity to the pagan Irish.
ALBUM SPOTLIGHT
2. There are no female leprechauns. 3. March 17 is the date of the death of Saint Patrick. 4. Saint Patrick actually preferred blue. 5. St. Patrick’s Day was a dry holiday in Ireland until 1970. 6. There are more Irish people in the United States than Ireland. 7. Around $245 million is spent on beer on St. Patrick’s Day. 8. Saint Patrick banished all snakes from Ireland.
— Compiled by Scott Davis, Managing Editor
YAKS of the WEEK Yik Yak: The voice of the people
1. “Me: *has tons of homework to do* Me: *takes Buzzfeed quiz to see what kind of Pop Tart I am.*” 2. “Hey guys! What kind of school did Carbon go to? An ELEMENTary school. Hahaha someone be my friend.”
3. “Be the type of person your dog thinks you are.” 4. “First day on the job as a drug dealer. ‘We don’t have coke, is Pepsi ok?’ *giggles* *gets stabbed.*” 5. “Finding a girl like you is like trying to get a Bill Nye ticket #OUPickupLines.” 6. “Boyfri(end) girlfri(end) bestfri(end) piz(forever)za.” 7. “Hungry, walks into Vandy. Finds an acorn on the ground. Picks
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up acorn and eats it instead.” 8. “Wanna know what makes me smile? … Face muscles.” 9. “I start political debates to boost my Yakarama #HonestyHour.” 10. “Responses to Yaks should be called ReYaktions.” – Compiled by Shelby Tankersley, Staff Reporter
RATBOYS “AOID” MARLON WILLIAMS – “Marlon Williams” TEEN – “Love Yes” MASS GOTHIC– “Mass Gothic” CHARLES BRADLEY – “Changes” QUILT – “Plaza” YUCK – “Stranger Things” DIRTY NIL – “Higher Power” DEAR TRACKS – “Soft Dreams [EP]” BENJI HUGHES – “Songs in the Key of Animals”
#7. Yuck — “Stranger Things” In 2011, Yuck released their self-titled debut to critical acclaim and was at the forefront of a 90s indie rock revival. Inspired by the droning and fuzzy guitar sounds by bands of the era like My Bloody Valentine and the Pixies, Yuck tapped into a timeless sound that many were feeling nostalgic for twenty years after. Five years later, the revival of this 90s-inspired sound is more prevalent. Yuck is no longer the only contemporary band writing songs that sound like Dinosaur Jr. The band is also without former singer/guitarist Daniel Blumberg, who led the band to popularity on their debut. With these two points in mind, its easy to dismiss Yuck as a band of has-beens. But on their third album, “Stranger Things,” the remaining members prove that they can still write quality songs and shred like its 1991. The opening tracks, “Hold Me Closer” and “Cannonball,” finds the band at their catchiest. “Yr Face,” the closing track, is a pleasant surprise with its gummy lead guitar line, prompting even the most rigid listeners to bob their heads slowly in time. Much like “Rubber” from Yuck’s debut album, “Yr Face” is a pleasing long burner that ends the album on a cathartic moment of fuzz and drone. Recommended if you like: Dinosaur Jr, 90s Nickelodeon cartoons, My Bloody Valentine. Start with: “Hold Me Closer,” “Cannonball,” “Yr Face” – Anthony Spak, WXOU Music Director
The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Puzzles Across
1: Rm. coolers 4: Water balloon impact sound 9: Vegetates 14: Butter square 15: Carbon copy 16: Type of bond or order 17: Musclebound brute 18: Hurried pace 19: Allowance-earning task, perhaps 20: Good judgment 23: Remote room? 24: Preserve, as fodder 25: Swallow 27: Golf range surface 28: En ___ (all together) 30: One-edged sword 33: Screwball 37: Tune 38: Snide 39: Seek favor with 40: Some beach parties 43: Resided 45: Head parts 46: Metro maker 47: Use mouthwash 50: On 54: Original sinner
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March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
55: Ace in the hole business? 59: Like ballerinas and contortionists 61: Uncertainty 62: Some gametes 63: Is bold 64: Tightly-twisted thread 65: Just released 66: Pig noise 67: ‘Come on in’ 68: Building wing
Down
1: Quickly 2: Food fowl 3: Edible rhubarb parts 4: Master of a research discipline 5: Orrery orb 6: Write-off 7: Players may up it 8: Adolescent 9: Too much liberty 10: Chimpanzee’s hoot 11: Battery terminal 12: Things to put out 13: Bouquet 21: White-faced performer 22: Milquetoast
26: Hairdo helper 28: Parcels (out) 29: ‘Them’ insects 30: Pouch in the body 31: Feel unwell 32: Two-piece piece 33: Rice drink 34: She may get sheared 35: Helios, to the Romans 36: Barfly 38: Bring the food 41: EPA computation 42: With the least hair 43: Pro, half the time 44: Courts 46: Take a chance 47: Neuters, as a horse 48: Like a roc 49: ‘It’s b-a-a-c-k!’ fashion 51: Square things 52: Whoop it up 53: Speech mannerism 56: Emulate a couch potato 57: Filet mignon source 58: Lascivious longing 60: ‘___ Town Too’ (1981 hit for James Taylor and J.D. Souther)
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Sports
Sam Schlenner / The Oakland Post
Freshman Devon Nowicki holds his kickboard, which is adorned with his goal for the 100-yard breaststroke.
Golden Grizzly swimmer heads south Freshman Devon Nowicki to compete in NCAAs Sam Schlenner Sports Editor
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he NCAA DI Swimming and Diving Championships will begin March 23 at Georgia Tech’s Aquatic Center in Atlanta. Oakland freshman Devon Nowicki will be there. His Olympic trial cut in the 100-yard breaststroke is late June in Omaha. Oakland swimming and diving head coach Pete Hovland first purposely saw Devon Nowicki swim in person at an Oakland County boys meet during the latter’s sophomore year of high school. Later, swim coaches at major schools around the country might have wished they’d caught the six-foot-five swimmer so early. “When he just jumps in the water, you can kind of see the fluidity, how smooth, the distance he travels underwater,” Hovland said. He’s 18, but his mechanics are not green. “Technically,” Hovland said, “he’s as good as anybody I’ve had.” At the Horizon League Championship in late February, he www.oaklandpostonline.com
anchored the league-recordsetting 800- and 400-yard freestyle relay teams and won the 500 freestyle. He swam second leg on the league-record-setting 400-yard medley relay team. He set the pool and league record in the 100 and 200 breaststroke. With those times, he qualified for the NCAA championship. But 52.48, his 100 time, is just one story. The other is a number 2.8 seconds smaller. 49.68. The United States shortcourse 100-yard breaststroke record stands at 50.04, set on March 28, 2014, by Kevin Cordes. He clinched that swimming for the University of Arizona, a school which would later communicate with Nowicki. 50.04. Four hundredths off. “I thought it would just be really cool to be the first American under 50-point in the 100 yard breaststroke,” Nowicki said. But to do that, he’d only need to shave 4 percent of a second off the record, not 36 percent. Why choose 49.68? “Just [to] be specific,” Nowicki said. “S.M.A.R.T. goal, you know.” His commitment to swimming began a couple of years ago when two coaches blew into his career — Chris Sullivan, the former Oakland swimmer who still holds the 50 and 100 free and 100 butterfly school re-
cords, and Pat Dodge, a former Lake Orion swimmer who came back to coach. “That’s when I learned there is more I needed to learn about swimming to get faster,” he said. “That was my junior year of high school, and then through the summer I really pushed myself.” He hadn’t always done that. “Through my early years of swimming I kind of relied more on talent than hard work,” Nowicki said. “After my freshman year, I took a lot of time off and came back to swimming expecting to win everything like I usually did, and it just didn’t pan out that well.” He switched his priorities, started making his own success. And has mostly kept it up. “Trying to,” Nowicki said. He’s lost his grip before. “I did earlier this first semester,” he said, “but I got it back in time.” The Horizon League Championship results sheet corroborates this. “He’s a go-to guy,” Hovland said. “That’s kind of uncanny. He’s a lot more mature of a swimmer than his age would indicate. He acts like a senior. Somebody that’s been there, done it a zillion times. That’s pretty uncommon for somebody so young. That’s a trait I think he has that helps make him a cut above the rest.” The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Sports
Golden Grizzlies named to honors teams by Horizon League head coaches Ally Racey & Hannah Gorosh Staff Reporter & Intern
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Nowshin Chowdhury / The Oakland Post
Women’s basketball ended the season 7-11 in the Horizon League as it lost in the first round of the tournament to Youngstown State.
Loss to Green Bay ends run Ally Racey Staff Reporter
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o. 7 Oakland women’s basketball (15-15, 7-11 Horizon League) fell 6563 to No. 6 Youngstown State (19-11, 9-9) in the 2016 Horizon League Championship on Thursday at the Kress Events Center in Green Bay, Wisc. “I thought we were playing as if all the pressure in the world was on us,” Oakland head coach Jeff Tungate said. He said the team was trying too hard, but came out better in the second half and played with more poise and composure. “We just need to relax and have some fun and enjoy the game,” Tungate said. Youngstown State defeated the Golden Grizzlies 68-64 at the 2014 Horizon League Tournament. At the time, the Penguins were the No. 3 seed. Youngstown State surpassed Oakland after a 63-63 tie. Janae Jackson, who recorded a team-
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high 24 points and 15 boards, scored two points with just 2.2 seconds left. Oakland quickly called a time out, and the Golden Grizzlies had another chance to win the game. Senior Elena Popkey shot her last foreseeable basket of college hoops — a three-pointer was all Oakland needed to win. The ball bounced twice on the rim, but didn’t fall in. Popkey led Oakland with 16 points, seven rebounds and three assists to tie the record for the most career assists in program history. She is tied with the 1988-90 player Ann Serra with 483 total assists. Also scoring for Oakland was Taylor Gleason with 10 points and four assists. Sinclair Russell added six points and grabbed a teamhigh 13 rebounds. She blocked two shots. For the Penguins, sophomore forward Sarah Cash scored 12 points and grabbed eight rebounds. Cash was named to
March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
the All-Horizon League Second Team selection. Free throws were not the Golden Grizzlies’ strong suit Thursday night. “Bottom line, at the end of the day you cant go 6-for-18 from the free throw line and win a basketball game, “ he said. “We got the result we probably deserved.” Tungate thought the team was trying to make its own offense in the first half. “Everyone wanted to make the play and wanted to be the hero, and do what we had to do to win, instead of letting our offense be the hero,” he said. Tungate is proud of the team. He recognized Popkey and Olivia Nash as two seniors who have left a legacy. “I told them that I’ve learned a lot more from them than they’ll ever learn from me,” he said. “We’re going to miss those two greatly, and you know, they had exceptional careers.”
enior Olivia Nash and freshman Taylor Jones were named to All-Horizon League teams on March 8, a decision made by the league’s ten head coaches. Nash got on the Second Team and Jones got on the All-Freshman Team. Nash said it was always a realistic goal, and it all boiled down to leading her teammates to believe they are one of the top teams in the league. “I think it really became clear when we swept the top team in our league,” Nash said. “That just proved that we really can beat anybody on any given night.” Nash left a legacy and she will always be a part of the Golden Grizzlies family, head coach Jeff Tungate said in the March 10 post-game press conference. When she first arrived at Oakland, her goals were to make an impact on the team either during practice, in games or even off the court. “I wanted to contribute to the program and make it grow anyway that I could,” Nash said. Another goal was to win a league championship, the hopes of which ended on Thursday, March 10 when the team fell 65-63 to Youngstown State at the Horizon League Championship in Green Bay. Nash’s senior year was one for the books. She was named Horizon League Player of the Week and College Sports Madness Horizon League Player of the Week. At the season-opener against UMDearborn, she reached the 1,000-career-point mark. With 32 double-doubles, Nash is Oakland’s all-time Division I leader. She got eight double-doubles this year, according to GoldenGrizzlies.com. “They’re great individual accomplishments…but whenever someone wins an award like that, I mean that’s a team award,” Tungate said in the March 9 GrizzVision interview with Mekye Phelps. “They couldn’t do it without their teammates. It’s great to see our team get recognized.” Jones played in 30 games this season and started ten. She is the second-highest scorer on the team and ranked tenth in the league with 13.6 points per game. Her 1.5 steals per game is eleventh in the conference. Her performances have led her to cultivate six Horizon League Freshman of the Week awards, a conference-best tied with that of Ashanti Abshaw from Cleveland State. “I am going to put in a lot of work in the offseason,” Jones wrote in an email. “Although I am glad of what I accomplished as a freshman, I am still not satisfied because there is always room for improvement.” She knew the All-Freshman Team was within her grasp. “I set goals for myself as soon as I arrived here last summer and knew I had to do whatever it took in order to achieve them,” Jones wrote. In her next three years, she wants to become a leading figure on the team. “I want to develop as a leader on the court and win a championship,” she wrote. “I want to also help change the culture of this program and do things that no other teams have done prior to my arrival.” Jones wrote. “These four years fly by and you can’t take a single game for granted,” Nash said. “Everything you achieve in this sport has to come through hard work and [the] support of your teammates and coaches.” “You can’t do it alone.” www.oaklandpostonline.com
Sports
Tennis cruises on singles success Katlynn Emaus Staff Reporter
O
akland’s women’s tennis (6-4) has been off to a good start. “Last year was the first year to make it to championships,” head coach Heather Redshaw wrote in an email. “This year we want to win matches when we get there.” Redshaw explained that the team has been “working very hard on their philosophy of doubles play.” Senior Karine Celis also stressed the importance of doubles. “It is imperative to start out every match with a 1-0 start before the singles play begins.” Celis wrote in an email. “At the beginning of the season our confidence in singles play was lacking,” Redshaw wrote, “but after our trip to Florida the girls have shown tremendous improvement during their singles play. Everyone on our team has improved their overall records in singles to the positive.” “We have won four out of [eight] of our last matches 7-0. That is a definite improvement in our singles play,” Celis wrote. The Golden Grizzlies went 5-1 on their Florida road trip against Keiser, Florida Atlantic, Florida A&M, Savannah State, Seton Hill and Mount St. Mary’s. “Our team attitude on the court has become increasingly improved over the last seven matches,” Celis wrote. “We have increased our enthusiasm and team swagger, which is very important for conference play.” Redshaw is looking forward to the first weekend of Horizon League play and hopes to come out of it with a 2-0 record. “We are hoping the upperclassmen on this team will finish their college careers with the best season of all,” Redshaw wrote. “We have five seniors in the lineup that are hungry for a championship. I believe they are working extremely hard to fulfill their goals of having the best season thus far.” “We train three times a week in the weight room at 6:30 a.m.” Celis wrote. “We practice daily with drills and match play. Everyone works extremely hard both in season and outof-season to produce good results
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Courtesy of Oakland Athletics / The Oakland Post
The Oakland women’s tennis team will begin its first league match of the 2016 season on March 26, and its first home match on April 2.
during matches.” Redshaw believes Oakland is different from others in the conference. “We have become a very unified force; our team dynamic is extremely tight,” she wrote. “We have worked hard this season on team-building activities that really have shown to be paying off.”
“We are hoping the upperclassmen on this team will finish their college careers with the best season of all.” Heather Redshaw Head Coach, Women’s Tennis
Oakland heads out to St. Bonaventure, New York to battle St. Bonaventure at 10:00 a.m. ET on Saturday, March 19. Horizon League play begins with a match at Green Bay at 3 p.m. ET on Saturday, March 26. The Golden Grizzlies play their first home matches of the season at 3:30 p.m. ET on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3 against Cleveland State and Youngstown State, respectively. The Oakland Post // March 16, 2016
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Sports
DJ Earl: The man behind the magic
Bohdanna Cherstylo / The Oakland Post
Oakland’s DJ for men’s and women’s basketball Earl McKinney pumps up the Grizz Gang.
Bohdanna Cherstylo Photographer
I
n the O’rena, there is an undeniable atmosphere of excitement: the subtle talks of anticipation, the dribbling of basketballs during the warmups, the amplified bass of the music. There is a team that orchestrates this ambience, and for them, basketball is not just a game. It is a family for the workers, a dream for the players, a spectacle for the fans. A big part of the environment is music, but it’s not enough just to play songs. It is crucial for the music to mesh. Oakland University Athletics Coordinator of Marketing and Promotions Taylor Blakely and his team play a major role in creating and improving the night. “We wanted to do something to change the atmosphere,” he said. This is where a DJ comes into play. The DJ controls the tone, timing and choice of music presented in the game of hoops. Earl McKinney, aka DJ Earl, syncs his music to take the game to another level. He is the official disc jockey for the men’s and women’s basketball games,
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March 16, 2016 // The Oakland Post
and sets up in front of the Grizz Gang. “To add excitement is vital to the game as I feel the student body, fans and supporters are the very crucial ‘sixth man’ by cheering the players on,” DJ Earl wrote in an email. “The more active and loud the O’rena is ... the better.” The beat, melody and lyrics can all come together to excite the fans and focus the athletes. “College basketball is every bit as exciting as any pro [game],” DJ Earl wrote. He started as a DJ for the Detroit Pistons and Shock. “Most of my planning comes from going through various playlists and looking for some of the latest new hits and looking through ‘rough draft’ walkthroughs,” DJ Earl wrote. The Space Jam theme song and “Basketball” by Bow Wow have depicted the game for many years. Today’s generation connects hoops to “White Iverson” by Post Malone and “Jumpman” by Drake and Future. It’s a collision of two different cultures — basketball and music. “Players pretty much love any songs by Drake, Future, to Nicki Minaj and Beyonce,” DJ Earl wrote. “Their taste is impeccable.”
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